Romanian Diaspora in the UK: Post-Brexit Challenges, Opportunities and Next Steps

The British Embassy Bucharest, the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) and the Romanian Embassy in the UK held a community outreach event at the Romanian Cultural Centre in London to provide information to Romanian citizens living in the UK about their rights after the UK’s exit from the EU.

Minister Suella Fernandes from the Department for Exiting the EU, Romanian Ambassador Dan Mihalache, British Ambassador to Romania Paul Brummell and officials from DExEU, the Home Office, Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions provided updates on the negotiations and the new settled status scheme that will be put in place for EU citizens living in the UK.

The minister said that Romanian citizens in the UK are highly valued members of the community who we want to stay. Officials outlined the plans for the settled status scheme and reassured Romanian citizens that the process will be simple, cheap and streamlined.

DExEU Minister Suella Fernandes said:

“Everyone in this room, and members of the Romanian community across the whole of the UK, make a contribution to British society and culture. You help save lives, you teach children, you help build bridges and homes and you help to make Britain the inclusive and diverse society it is. So I want to stress that you are an important part of our community. We want to make sure that everyone here continues to feel welcome – and that you’re able to carry on living your lives as before, in the country you have chosen to make your home.”

British Ambassador Paul Brummell said:

“The UK has made it a priority to provide certainty to EU citizens living and working in the UK and UK citizens living across the EU, including Romania, as regards their future rights. We’re delighted that an agreement was reached with the European Commission, endorsed at the December European Council, which provides this certainty. It will allow members of the Romanian community in the UK to stay here after we leave the EU on 29 March 2019, and to continue to access public funds and services.”

The event is the first of its kind in a series of town hall style meetings with the Romanians living in the UK and the British citizens living in Romania. The second event will be held in Manchester on 28 February.